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AKRON, Ohio -- The Ohio Lottery is looking into ways to reward its most loyal players.

The state lottery commission is seeking proposals from companies that would run a customer loyalty program.

The Akron Beacon Journal (http://bit.ly/16zbJL8) reports that players would accumulate points for playing lottery games. Then they'd be able to redeem the points for prizes, sweepstakes entries, instant-win games or second-chance drawings. It would begin this fall.

David Gale, executive director of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries in Geneva, Ohio, said loyalty programs make sense and can help the lottery remain competitive. He said he sees it as "a natural evolution of our industry."

The Ohio Lottery is now competing with four new casinos around the state and horse tracks that are now offering slots-like gambling.